Stretchable surgical pad



Jan. 28, 1964 M. R. LEVlTT STRETCHABLE SURGICAL PAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 24, 1960 Jan. 28, 1964 M. R. LEVITT 3,119,390

STRETCHABLE SURGICAL PAD Filed 001;. 24, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent M 3,119,394} STRETCHABLE SURGIUAI. PAD Miitcn It. Levitt, New Brunswick, Ni, assignor to The Schell Mtg. (30., Inc, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Fiied Get. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 64,634 2 Claims. ((11. 128153) This invention relates to improvements in stretchable surgical pads, and more particularly to surgical pads, plasters, finger and other bandages, and similar devices for application to the human body to relieve an aflliction from pressure and to eliminate rubbing contact of apparel with various afilictions, such as corns, calluses, bunions, cuts, abrasions, open wounds or sores, among others, although the invention will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, surgical pads for alleviating corns, calluses, bunions, and the like, were made in various sizes and shapes and usually provided with an afliiction receiving opening extending partially or entirely through the pad structure. These devices, however, were not stretchable. Afiiictions such as corns, calluses, bunions and the like are frequently not symmetrical, but irregular in shape, and consequently in many cases would have a shape not in keeping with the various shapes of affliction receiving openings commonly provided in pads. There was, therefore, always the danger of the pads available at the time of need not having an afilliction opening of the proper size for the particular affliction, and if the pad was too large at least in one or two directions from the affliction there would not be sufiicient relief of pressure over the afiliction, and if the afiliction receiving opening in the pad was too small adjacent certain parts of the affiiction the body of the pad would impinge upon the border of the airliction and actually increase the pressure at that point. With such pads as heretofore made, there was no stretci ability of the pad itself nor could the pad be physically adjusted to accommodate and benefit an afiliction around which the pad would not otherwise properly fit. With pads of this type heretofore known, any attempt to distort the pad or reshape it resulted in creases or Wrinkles which only aggravated the condition the pad was presumed to help.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a surgical pad or plaster so constructed that it may be adjusted in keeping with a particular affliction by distorting the pad out of its original shape without any danger of the formation of creases or wrinkles.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a surgical pad or a plaster so constructed as to be distortable in substantially any direction to better accommodate a particular afiliction.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a surgical pad or a plaster which may be made in various sizes and shapes and which is stretchable in any desired direction.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a surgical pad or a plaster having a body portion made of material that is stretchable in substantially any direction.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a surgical pad or a plaster having an affliction receiving opening therein, a cover over that opening and the cover being slit in a manner to permit distortion of the pad in substantially any direction to accommodate a particular afi'liction.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a surgical pad or a plaster that is adjustable in substantially any desired direction to accommodate a particular afiiiction, and which is extremely economical to manufacture.

3,1193% Patented Jan. 28, 1954 While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others Will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a human foot showing a surgical pad embodying principles of the instant invention in operative position thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the pad alone;

FIGURE 3 is a still further enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IiI-III of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic View of the weaving of the fabric in the pad showing the same stretched in one direction;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing the fabric stretched in the other direction;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a human foot with a pad of somewhat different construction but embodying principles of the instant invention in operative position thereon;

FIGURE 7 is a plan View, enlarged, of the pad of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, further enlarged, taken substantially as indicated by the line VIlIVlII of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a pad of different shape embodying principles of the instant invention; and

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line XX of FIG- URE 9.

As shown on the drawings:

The first illustrated embodiment of the instant invention is shown in FIGURES 1 to 5 inclusive, and in FIG- URE 1 I have illustrated a pad, generally indicated by numeral 1, in operative position on the top of the third toe of a human foot 2, in which location the pad will K enefit a corn on the top of the toe, :a hammer toe condition or some similar affliction. It will be noted from the showing in FIGURE 1 that the pad when applied has been distorted from its original shape, as seen in FIGURE 2. The pad has been stretched longitudinally in FIGURE 1 to better adjust it to the particular ailiiction, and it will be noted that the pad assumes a smooth unwrinkled engagement with the toe.

With reference now to FIGURES 2 and 3 it will be seen that the pad comprises a lower layer of fabric 3 having a pressure sensitive adhesive undersurface 4 by means of which the pad is attached to the body of the use-r. On top of this lower layer is a body layer 5, and boththe layers 4 and 5 are provided with an amiction receiving opening 6 therein. A cover layer 7 extends over the afiliction receiving opening. The various layers may be adhesively or equivalently secured together in superposed position. Obviously, the pad may be given any desired thickness or depth by utilizing thicker or more body layers.

The cover 7, in this instance, is made of what may be ermed two way stretch fabric, and in the illustrated instance this stretchable diabric is shown with a heavy nap 8 on one side thereof to provide what is commonly termed moleskin. The threads of such fabric may be of any suitable stretchable material such as a rubber core with a wound thread thereon, a Hel-anca yarn, or equivalent material. In FIGURE 4 I have diagrammatically indicated the woven portion of the fabric comprising threads 9 extending in one direction and threads 10 extending transversely thereto. In FIGURE 4 the fabric is shown stretched in one direction, namely from left to right of the sheet, while in FIGURE 5 the fabric is-shown stretched in the opposite direction, namely from top to bottom of the sheet. Obviously with a weave of this character, there will be some stretch in the fabric in a diagonal direction as Well as the two directions longitudinally of the respective threads. It will therefore be apparent that the cover 7 is stretchable in any desired direction.

Preferably the body layer 5 is made of the same material as the cover 7, and the bottom layer 3 carrying the adhesive may also be made of the same material but it is not necessary to do so, since the provision of the afiliotion receiving opening permits some distortion of the bottom layer without wrinkling thereof.

In use, it is a simple expedient to pull the pad in any desired direction out of its original form or contour to adapt the afiiction receiving opening 6 to any particular afiliotion, in keeping with the shape of that particular affliction. As stated above, in FIGURE 1 the pad is shown stretdhed longitudinally or along its longer axis which would result in lengthening the afiiiction receiving opening and at the same time narrowing it somewhat so that the pad may be disposed around the afiliction in a position to relieve the afliiction of pressure and provide what may be termed an excellent fit.

It should be noted that, if desired, the fabric may be cut on the bias to form the cover 7 and if desired the body layer 5. In other words the threads of the fabric would not be disposed along the longitudinal transverse axes of the pad, but diagonally thereto.

In FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 I have illustrated a pad of different shape and also of somewhat different construction, but which performs the same resuits. This pad may be distorted in any desired direction and, in effect, stretched. In this instance, the pad may comprise a lower layer 11 having an adhesive undersurface 12, a body layer 13, and a cover 314. The bottom layer 11 and body layer 13 are provided with a relatively large aperture to provide an affliction receiving opening 15. The body layer 13 and cover 14 may be made of the commonly known moleskin or any other satisfactory material which need not be stretchable material, unstretchable material being quite satisfactory. In order to render the pad distortable or stretchable, the cover 14 is incised or slit in the form of a cross 16 over the affliction receiving opening 15. Preferably each leg of the cross is in the form of a narrow V tapering outwardly from the center to a relatively sharp apex as indicated at 17. The provision of the incised cross 16 in the cover 14 permits the entire pad to be distorted from its original shape upon application without any danger of creases or wrinkles occurring. In FIGURE 6 I have illustrated the pad, which in this instance is of an ovate shape as disposed over a bunion or moderate case of hallux valgus and it will be noted that the pad has been distroted so that the affiiction might properly be received within the opening 15. A pad of this general shape is especially suitable for calluses on the plantar surface of the foot in the region of the metatarsal arch and other uses will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In FIGURES 9 and 10 I have shown a still different shape of a pad embodying the instant invention, and in this instance the pad is of the type suitable among other uses for alleviating soft corns, corns between the toes, hammer toe corns, etc. This pad has a bottom layer 18 with an adhesive undersurface 19, a body layer 20, and a cover 21. The material of the pad need not be stretchable, but unstretchable moleskin or other suitable material is highly satisfactoryt Here again, the cover is provided with an incised cross 22 over an affliction receiving opening 23 in the bottom and body layers. As in the previous instance, the legs of the cross taper outwardly to a fine termination point 24. This pad is shaped with one end substantially semi-circular, straight side walls, and the other end cut olf in a concave are as indicated at 25. Obviously the pad may be distorted when put to use or, in effect, stretched out of its original shape, in order to properly center the afiliction in the opening 23. It will be noted that where unstretchable material is used there is no more cost in the production of the pad than was heretofore encountered, except for the, negligible amount required to make the incision. Where stretchable material is used as in the first described embodiment, the pad may be constructed in the same manner and with the same operations as heretofore known, and the only additional cost would be the slight extra charge for stretchable material over unstretchable material.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a surgical pad or a plaster that may be made in substantially any desirable size or shape for various purposes, which costs only a negligible amount more than pads heretofore known for similar uses, and which is readily stretchable or distortable from its original position in order to accurately and properly position the pad over an affliction.

While pads have been herein disclosed and described as being stretchable by virtue of stretchable fabric, bias cut, or slits, it will be understood that all three or any two thereof may be incorporated in a single pad, if so desired.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A generally oval orthopedic distortable surgical pad adapted to be distorted in any direction to conform to the contour of an irritated area of the foot comprising a bottom layer carrying pressure sensitive adhesive on its under side, a body layer secured to said bottom layer, said layers having aligned central openings therethrough, and a cover fixed to the top of said body layer and overlying said openings, said layers and said cover being comprised of distortable two way stretch permeable fabric.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said two way stretch permeable fabric comprises bias cut cloth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 889,827 Teufel June 2, 1908 979,329 Muller Dec. 20, 1910 2,123,121 Schrader July 5, 1938 2,292,144 Meldman Aug. 4, 1942 2,342,300 Penksa Feb. 22, 1944 2,383,804 Kaunitz Aug. 28, 1945 2,740,402 Scholl Apr. 3, 1956 2,847,004 Lowth Aug. 12, 1958 2,923,292 Dorr Feb. 2, 1960 

1. A GENERALLY OVAL ORTHOPEDIC DISTORTABLE SURGICAL PAD ADAPTED TO BE DISTORTED IN ANY DIRECTION TO CONFORM TO THE CONTOUR OF AN IRRITATED AREA OF THE FOOT COMPRISING A BOTTOM LAYER CARRYING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE ON ITS UNDER SIDE, A BODY LAYER SECURED TO SAID BOTTOM LAYER, SAID LAYERS HAVING ALIGNED CENTRAL OPEINIGS THERETHROUGH, AND A COVER FIXED TO THE TOP OF SAID BODY LAYER AND OVERLYING SAID OPENINGS, SAID LAYERS AND SADI COVER BEING COMPRISED OF DISTORTABLE TWO WAY STRETCH PERMEABLE FABRIC. 